Famous Dodgers

Published: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 7:36 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at 7:36 a.m.

The movie “42,” a tribute to Jackie Robinson and baseball, claimed the box office championship last weekend, taking in an estimated revenue of $27.3 million, and it’s a movie Guy and Judi Wellman of Flat Rock wouldn’t miss. Mr. Wellman spent his career mainly with the Los Angeles Dodgers. “He was a catcher, scout, field coordinator and the only director for 25 years for the Dodger Baseball Fantasy Camps at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.,” Mrs. Wellman introduces her husband to Mountains to Molehills readers. “Spring training also was there until they moved several years ago to Glendale, Ariz. Guy knew Jackie Robinson and has great respect for him as a person and as a player. I have been fortunate enough to go to the camps with Guy since 2002. Ralph and Anne Branca, Carl and Betty Erskine, Duke (deceased) and Bev Snider, Clem (deceased) and Barbara Labine along with many other famous Dodgers attended the camps. Once in a while Tommy LaSorda and Sandy Koufax would be there.” The movie, which the Wellmans hope to see soon, will be playing at Flat Rock Cinema through at least next Thursday. Showtimes are 3:30 and 7 p.m.

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‘ON THE OTHER HAND’: Jim Foster of Mills River, reacting to the Air Force’s plan to lease some of its facilities to the public, says one reason the military services have trouble operating jointly is that they don’t speak the same language. “For example,” he says, “if you told Navy personnel to ‘secure a building,’ they would turn off the lights and lock the doors. The Army would occupy the building so no one could enter. Marines would assault the building, capture it and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat. The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.”

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OOPS!: A photographer for the newspaper was assigned to cover a forest fire that was threatening a nearby town. The newspaper wanted to show some of the heroic work of the firefighters as they battled the blaze. When the photographer arrived, he realized the smoke was so thick that it would make it impossible for him to photograph anything from ground level. He requested permission to rent a plane and take photos from the air. His request was approved, and arrangements were made. He was told to report to a nearby airport where a plane would be waiting for him. He arrived at the airport and saw a plane warming up near the gate. He jumped in with his bag and shouted, “Let’s go!” The pilot swung the little plane into the wind, and within minutes they were in the air. The photographer said, “Fly over the park and make two or three low passes so I can take some pictures.” “Why?” asked the pilot. “Because I am a photographer,” he responded, “and photographers take photographs.” The pilot was silent for a moment. Finally he stammered, “You mean you’re not the flight instructor?”

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LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Environmental and Conservation Organization will host another Strive Not to Drive Event on Friday. The organization is encouraging travel by foot, car-pooling, bus, bicycle or just staying at home on that day. The organization reports that for last year’s event more than 300 residents found a way other than traveling by car alone to get around. Participation is easy and only takes your commitment to cleaner, healthier ways of getting around. A registration form can be found either on the ECO website at www. eco-wnc.org or by calling the ECO office at 692-0385 to register your group for recognition. u Make plans to attend the Mighty Kite Flight on Saturday at Bonclarken in Flat Rock. It’s a free event, and the high-flying fun starts at 12:30 p.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m. Free kites will be given to the first 25 kids accompanied by an adult. Pack a lunch and spend the day.

<p>The movie “42,” a tribute to Jackie Robinson and baseball, claimed the box office championship last weekend, taking in an estimated revenue of $27.3 million, and it's a movie Guy and Judi Wellman of Flat Rock wouldn't miss. Mr. Wellman spent his career mainly with the Los Angeles Dodgers. “He was a catcher, scout, field coordinator and the only director for 25 years for the Dodger Baseball Fantasy Camps at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Fla.,” Mrs. Wellman introduces her husband to Mountains to Molehills readers. “Spring training also was there until they moved several years ago to Glendale, Ariz. Guy knew Jackie Robinson and has great respect for him as a person and as a player. I have been fortunate enough to go to the camps with Guy since 2002. Ralph and Anne Branca, Carl and Betty Erskine, Duke (deceased) and Bev Snider, Clem (deceased) and Barbara Labine along with many other famous Dodgers attended the camps. Once in a while Tommy LaSorda and Sandy Koufax would be there.” The movie, which the Wellmans hope to see soon, will be playing at Flat Rock Cinema through at least next Thursday. Showtimes are 3:30 and 7 p.m.</p><p>u</p><p>'ON THE OTHER HAND': Jim Foster of Mills River, reacting to the Air Force's plan to lease some of its facilities to the public, says one reason the military services have trouble operating jointly is that they don't speak the same language. “For example,” he says, “if you told Navy personnel to 'secure a building,' they would turn off the lights and lock the doors. The Army would occupy the building so no one could enter. Marines would assault the building, capture it and defend it with suppressive fire and close combat. The Air Force, on the other hand, would take out a three-year lease with an option to buy.”</p><p>u</p><p>OOPS!: A photographer for the newspaper was assigned to cover a forest fire that was threatening a nearby town. The newspaper wanted to show some of the heroic work of the firefighters as they battled the blaze. When the photographer arrived, he realized the smoke was so thick that it would make it impossible for him to photograph anything from ground level. He requested permission to rent a plane and take photos from the air. His request was approved, and arrangements were made. He was told to report to a nearby airport where a plane would be waiting for him. He arrived at the airport and saw a plane warming up near the gate. He jumped in with his bag and shouted, “Let's go!” The pilot swung the little plane into the wind, and within minutes they were in the air. The photographer said, “Fly over the park and make two or three low passes so I can take some pictures.” “Why?” asked the pilot. “Because I am a photographer,” he responded, “and photographers take photographs.” The pilot was silent for a moment. Finally he stammered, “You mean you're not the flight instructor?”</p><p>u</p><p>LAST BUT NOT LEAST: The Environmental and Conservation Organization will host another Strive Not to Drive Event on Friday. The organization is encouraging travel by foot, car-pooling, bus, bicycle or just staying at home on that day. The organization reports that for last year's event more than 300 residents found a way other than traveling by car alone to get around. Participation is easy and only takes your commitment to cleaner, healthier ways of getting around. A registration form can be found either on the ECO website at www. eco-wnc.org or by calling the ECO office at 692-0385 to register your group for recognition. u Make plans to attend the Mighty Kite Flight on Saturday at Bonclarken in Flat Rock. It's a free event, and the high-flying fun starts at 12:30 p.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m. Free kites will be given to the first 25 kids accompanied by an adult. Pack a lunch and spend the day.</p><p>Reach Lou Parris at 828-694-7836 or molehills@blueridgenow.com.</p>